Transform Your Living Space: Expert Tips for Arranging Your Living Room

As some may know, the Mrs and I have recently moved out of our nicely designed architectural home and into a bit more of a traditional house while we start designing and building our next home! We've run into a bit of a issue with our current living room, where there are now literally 4 different focal points - one per wall, which has created a bit of chaos with our traditional layout where all of this was previously considered during the design stage and enhanced by the architecture.

So without further a due, here's our key tips and tricks on what to look out for when creating a living room layout that's both functional and stylish.

1. Find Your Focal Point

Every well-designed living room needs a focal point, something that draws the eye and anchors the space. This could be a fireplace, a large window, a stunning piece of art, or even a bookshelf. Once you've identified your focal point, position your main seating pieces (like the sofa) to face it. What if you have too many focal points like our current dilemma? More on this later!

A good example here of making the fire place the primary focus. Note the large picture window could have easily been the primary, however it’s instead being treated as a secondary player through strategic furniture placement. This allows it to work more appropriately as a subtle backdrop to the room.

2. Map Out the Traffic Flow

Imagine the natural flow of movement through your living room. Make sure people can easily walk around furniture without feeling like they're navigating an obstacle course. Leave at least 1 metre of clearance between furniture pieces and walkways (preferably 1.2metres!)

Nothing in the way: always make sure you can get from one space to the other without banging your toe! The above example show how a small space can still allow for free movement and natural circulation from all three primary spaces.

3. Conversation is Key

Arrange your seating to encourage conversation. Think about how people would naturally sit to chat – facing each other, at an angle, or in a circle. Avoid lining furniture up against the walls, as this can create a cold and formal atmosphere.

Maybe plan for your immediate friend group - how many people do you intend on hosting on the regular? In larger gatherings like the above, you may be better off with more of a circular arrangement while still placed closer together, where as if you plan on it being just you and your partner most of the time; perhaps an intimate single couch will do. Different areas can always serve different purposes… decide what your living room is really for!

4. Layer Your Rugs

Rugs can define different areas within your living room and add a touch of texture and warmth. Layer a smaller rug under your coffee table or in front of the fireplace to create a cozy zone.

Don’t be afraid to layer your rugs to create those zones! See the above example of how just a simple rug can be used to split a small study from the living area within the same space.

5. Don't Forget the Coffee Table

The coffee table is the workhorse of the living room. Choose a size that's proportional to your sofa and other furniture, and make sure it's the right height for setting down drinks and snacks. Round or oval tables work well in conversational groupings, while rectangular tables can add definition to a long, narrow space.

Smaller living rooms may call for a smaller coffee table - don’t be afraid to reduce the size: it will make your space look even larger and improve overall functionality of the space.

6. Light it Up

Layered lighting is essential for creating a welcoming atmosphere. Combine overhead lighting with lamps on side tables, sconces on the walls, and floor lamps for reading nooks.

Lighting is key to controlling the mood of a space: introduce your natural lighting during the day (obviously) to keep yourself in-tune with the weather, while the overheads help you focus during times of heightened activity. Finally, a good and well placed lamp will help soften the mood as you lean into times of relaxation.

7. Accessorize with Personality

Personalize your space with decorative objects like throw pillows, blankets, artwork, and plants. These elements can reflect your style and interests, making your living room feel truly yours.

What colours do you like? Any particular textures that put you at ease? Now’s the time to introduce it into the space. This is the most important part of making a living space feel comfortable and more a reflection of yourself.

Bonus: What if there is something fundamentally at odds within the room?

Now, you may have noted that all of the above can be quite easily fixed with a new rug, buying a lamp, or down sizing your coffee table. But what do you do if the architecture itself is chaotic and has too many focal points - perhaps you're trying to change a room not traditionally intended for a living space into your new sanctuary.

If your focal points are all out of whack, this can cause sensory overload, a cluttered and chaotic feel, loss of purpose, and difficult conversation flow.

Without impacting the other 6 principles, you now need to make some tough decisions and look at your priorities:

Identify the Main Attraction: Decide which element you want to be the true focal point of the room. This could be a fireplace, a stunning window, a unique piece of art, or even a well-defined seating area.

Subdue the Secondary Players: Once you've identified the main attraction, tone down the other elements that might be competing for attention. This could involve using simpler colours and textures, reducing clutter, or even relocating non-essential furniture pieces.

Create Cohesive Zones: If the space allows, consider dividing the room into distinct zones, each with its own subdued focal point. This can help to create a sense of order and purpose within the overall layout.

Emphasize Flow: Arrange furniture and decor in a way that encourages natural movement and conversation. This can involve creating conversational groupings around the main focal point or using rugs and accessories to define different areas within the space.

The above is a good example of how ignoring the principles of flow and focus can result in a cluttered and chaotic experience. Although well intentioned, the above appears as a confusing space with almost too much going on. This is okay for some, but certainly not our cup of tea!

Final thoughts

Move furniture around, try different layouts, and see what works best for your space and lifestyle. Your living room should be a reflection of you, so have fun and enjoy the process!

Remember, the best living room arrangement is one that's comfortable, functional, and reflects your personal style - so work with what you have and what you like. Who cares what anyone else thinks at the end of the day!